Valve construction



' April 16,- 1940. E. WALKER 2,197,231

Filed July 28, 1937 afom Patented Apr. 16, 1940v vALvEcoNs'rRoTIoN Earl Walker, Sullivan, Ill. "Application Julycs, 1937i, seriaiNo. 156,148

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves and particularly valves for spray apparatus wherein a plurality of nozzles are to bey simultaneously controlled individually,

The main objects oi" this invention are-to provide an improved valve control means; toprovicle an improved valve operating mechanism; to provide an improved valve mechanism for valves that are subjected to heat and temperature changes; to provide an improved valve mechanism for valves arranged in gangs; to'provide an improved valve mechanism for instantly controlling a plurality of individual valves simultaneously; and to provide an improved valve construction `wherein a gang of individual valves may be instantly and positively controlled. v

A specic embodiment `of this invention is shown in the accompanying `drawing wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a View in elevation of a road spraying apparatus embodying the improved valve and valve spraying mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary'top plan View of the spraying apparatus as taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary lsectional view-as taken on linev3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the valves and operating mechanism in rclosed position.

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing 'the' valves and.l I

operating mechanism in openposition, and,

Fig. 5 is a vsectional View as taken on line --li` in turn, are supported from Va member -l which ,I

maybe a part of a truck chassis. v

Each of the spray bars or distributor bars -I,

2, and 3 comprises a hollow tubular body closed at each end and having suitable vconnection with a supply pipe B, as shown in Fig. l2, the supply pipe 8 having a pair of branches 9 and I0 connected respectively to the central spray bar I,

and one of the lateral spray bars 3; vthere being v a supply pipe and suitable branches at eachend of the distributor bar I to supply it and the respective lateral bar. Also, as shown each lateral spray bar'` is provided with a swivel or pivotal connection with the respective supply pipe branch Ill, in order to permit the lateral spray bars being swung upwardly to a vertical position, as show-n at the right hand side of Fig. l. Suchswivel or.

pivotal connection is provided by the swivel coupling II shown in Fig. 2.

therethrough are spaced along the bottom side of each spray bar or distributor bar, each nozzle having communication, through lits body I4, with the interior of the tubular spray bar on which itis mounted. As shown in Figs. 3; 4, and 5, each nozzle is anvextern'ally threaded cylindrical member 'having threaded engagement with an externally threaded nozzle body member I4, which in turn, is threaded into a collar I5 integral on the distributor bar body, the nozzle body I4 being arranged sc that its end will be ushed with the inner surface of the tubular distributor ban An individual slide baror valve carrying memv the slide bar I6 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures I8 and I9 for each spray nozzle, and the slide bar I6 is shiftable to bring the apertures I8 and I9` selectively into registry with a valve opening centrally located -in each respective spray nozzle body I4.

A cylindrical valve housing 2l is mounted on the slide bar il@ over veach of the apertures I9 therethrough, said valve housing projecting upwardly from theslide bar into the interior of the distributor bar, in order to provide a housing for a spherical valve member 22 and a valve'member `actuating spring 23, and each valve housing 2| isprovided with an inwardly projecting flange 24 at its upper end against which one end of the spring 23 is seated. The spherical vvalve'member 22 is disposed between the spring23rand theinner `surface of the distributor bar along which it rolls upon shifting of the slide bar I6.

As shown,'the passageway or valve-opening 20 through the nozzle body `member I4 is of lesser diameter than theV spherical valvey member 22.

Hence, when the slide bar I6 is shifted so that the valve aperturek I9 Yis in registry with the valve opening v20 ofthe nozzle `body member I4, the sphericalvalve member will engage and seat in the end of the opening 20 and close the same.

Each valve member 22 is ofysuchsze as to roll *freely within its respective khousing `2IeX'-' cept for the friction exerted by the actuating spring 23. Thus, when vthe slide bar I6 is shifted longitudinally .ofv the spray or distributor bar iii-,which it is mounted, the spherical valve vmember ,22 :willbe engaged by the'side wall of the valve housing 2l and caused to -roll away from its seat on the yinner end of the passageway or opening 29, vand along the inner surface of the d'istrilcnltor bar untilthe slide bar I6 has been shifted to such an extent that :the aperture I8y lTIS therethrough is brought into registry with the passageway 2li leading to the valve nozzle I2.

In this position, the valve is open and there will be a free flow from the interior of the spray distributor bar through the aperture I8 in the slide bar I6 into the passageway 2B, and thence to the spray nozzle I2.

Backward shifting of the slide bar I6 Will cause the spherical valve 22 to be carried by its housing 2| until the valve member 22 is again in registry with the inner end of the passage 2l), at which point the valve member 22 will under the action of the spring 23, become seated in the end of the passage or valve opening 20 to tightly close the same.

It will now be readily apparent that with the above described construction, substantially any number of spray nozzles may be simultaneously and positively controlled by a single shiftable slide bar on which an equal number of valve members, one for each nozzle, are suitably spaced and mounted.

The operation of each slide bar I6 is accomplished by means of a respective slide bar actuating unit which comprises a crank ar1n25 fixedly mountedon a shaft 26 and arranged to extend downwardly into the interior. of the distributor bar where its inner end is engaged in a socket 21 formed by an annular upwardly projecting collar integral on the slide bar I6. The crank 25 is preferably tapered toward the slide bar engaging end and suitably arranged so as not to bind in the socket 2'I upon shifting movement of the slide bar. The shaft 26, on which the crank 25 is secured, is rotatably mounted in a hollow housing 28 mounted on and projecting from the upper surface of the distributor bar, and the crank 25 extends downwardly therefrom through an opening 29 in the upper wall of the distributor bar, which opening is covered by the housing 28 and sealed by the flange 28.|.

Also, the shaft 26 projects outwardly from the side of the housing 28 through a suitable gland, not shown, and an operating arm 3|.! is secured on the outwardly projecting end of the shaft 26. Thus, by shifting the arm 3|) and thereby rotating the-shaft 26, the crank arm 25 is caused to shift laterally and, in turn, shift the slide bar I6 to bring the aperture I8 therein, or the valve member 22 and its housing, into registry with the respective spray nozzle passageway 20.-

As shown in Fig. 1, the valve spraying mechanism is so arranged that all the Valves in each of a plurality of spray bars or distributing bars may be simultaneously controlled by means of a main lever 3|. As shown, the lever 3| is pivotally mounted on the central spray bar I, and projects upwardly therefroml so as to be readily accessible and operable. Preferablyl the lever 3| is fixed on the outwardly projecting portion of the crank shaft 26 of one of the units which controls the operation of the slide bar I6 of the central distributor bar I. Thus, shifting of the main lever 3| will directly actuate the slide bar of the central spray member.

Suitable linkage is provided between the main lever 3| and the respective operating arms 30 for the slidebar actuating units of the lateral distributor bars 2 and 3, in order that upon movement of the main lever 3|, which will actuate the slide bar of the central distributor bar I, the slide bars of the lateral distributor bars 2 and 3 will be simultaneously operated. This linkage may be of any convenient arrangement, and as shown in Fig. 1, comprises, for each lateral distributor bar, a bell crank 32 pivotally mounted on a support 33 which extends upwardly from the adjacent end of the central distributor bar I, the arms of the bell crank 32 being respectively connected by means of links 34 and 35 with the operating arm 30 of the lateral distributor bar and a branch arm of the main lever 3|.

In the case of the lateral distributor bar 3,

the link 35 is connected directly to a branch arm 36 of the main lever 3|; and in the case of the lateral distributor bar 2, the link 35 is connected to one arm of a second bell crank 37, the other arm of which is connected by a link 38 with a second branch arrn 39 of the main lever 3|. The bell crank 31 is pivotally mounted on the distributor bar I in 'any suitable manner such as a second control unit comprisingA a shaft 26 rotatably mounted in a housing 28 which may be a duplicate of that on which the main lever 3| is mounted.

An essential feature, however, of the linkage between the main lever 3| and the respective operating levers 36 is the arrangement whereby the pivot connection between each link 34 and the respective operating arm 36 is located so as to be disposed at the axis on which the respective lateral distributor bar pivots when it is swung to a vertical position, thus obviating the necessity of disconnecting the linkage from the operating arm so that the setting of the valve mechanism of the elevated distributor bar will not be disturbed. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 1, and particularly at the right hand side thereof, wherein the lateral distributor bar 2 is shown in its elevated position. With this arrangement the lateral distributor bars may be elevated whenever the valve mechanism is in an 01T position without disturbing the control mechanism for the same.

When it is desired to usea multiple spray equipment, such as that shown in Fig. 1, with the central distributor bar and only one of the lateral distributor bars in operation, the valve control linkage for they elevated bar may be disconnected at any suitable place in the linkage chain so as to allow operation of the valve mechanism for the horizontal bars without disturbing the shut-off valve setting of the elevated bar.

Such disconnectible arrangement of the control linkage is not shown in detail in the drawing, but it is apparent that disconnection can be readily accomplished at the pivot or wrist-pin joint between any suitably located pair of links. For example, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, wherein the distributor barl 2 is in elevated position, the link 35 may be connected to the respective arm of the bell-crank 31 by a removable pivot normally held in connected position by a removable cotter` pin. Thus with the bar 2 in elevated position, the link 35 may be` disconnected from the bell-crank 31 and allowed to hang free permitting the remainder of the control linkage to be operated by the main lever 3| in the normal manner.

This arrangement is particularly advantageous in road spraying equipment wherein it is necessary to quickly elevate and lower the lateral distributor bars without disturbing the position of the valve operating mechanism. As shown, in Fig. 1, each of the lateral distributor bars 2 and 3 is provided with a quadrant 40 by means of which, in conjunction with the vertical supports 33, the lateral distributor` bars may be locked in either the elevated or lowered positionsby means of a bolt or pin passing through suitable registering openings inthe vertical support 33 and the quadrant 40. y

The main advantages of my invention reside in the construction whereby-a valve or a plurality of valves can beindividually operated by valve mechanisms which will not be aiected by heat or temperature changes in the medium in which the valve operates. Several different types .of valve construction have heretofore been employed for the control of gangs of spray nozzle valves. However, substantially all of these de- 'y vices are subject to the objectionthat when they tions of use.

are operating` in or controlling the flow of a hot liquid material,l such as the bituminous material used for road dressings, the valve mechanisms tend to Aexpand so as to either bind the individual valves and render them inoperative or so expand the casing in which the valve mechanism operates as to prevent a positive shut-01T when it is desired that the valve be closed.

Other advantages lie in the `simplicity of the Aconstruction and the practical certainty of its properly operating under substantially all condi- Other advantages lie in the arplurality of control units wherein pivoted lateral extensions of a spray or distribution equipment may be pivotally elevated or lowered Without disturbing the closed position setting of the control units.

Although but one specic embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the. 'construction shown maybe altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the followingl claims.

I claim:

l. A spray equipment comprising a pair of individual tubular distributor bars arrangedin end to end. relation and each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced discharge openings, and supply connections to the adjacent ends of said distributor bars, each of said distributor bars having a valve mechanism therein comprising a longitudinally extending shiftable slide bar covering said discharge openings and having a plurality of spaced apertures alternate ones of. which are in registry with said discharge openings, a valve element in each of said registering slide bar apertures having a portion extending therethrough and seatin'gin aV respective discharge opening to close the same, means normally urging said valve elements to seat in said dis'- charge openings, a hollow housingon the outside of each vof the distributor bars having communication therethrough With the interior thereof, a respective operating shaft extending into each of said housings and journaled therein, and a crank arm fixed on eachof saidshafts within its respective housing and extending into therespective distributor bar to engage the said slide barv therein whereby upon rotation of said operating shaft said crank arm will shift said slide barand bring the other apertures' thereof into reg-v istry with the respective discharge openings, an

operating arm on the operating shaft of each atingarm whereby the valve mechanisms of said distributor barsare operated simultaneously.y

2. A spray equipment comprising a pair of individual tubular distributor bars arranged in end to end relation and each having a plurality lof longitudinally spaced discharge openings and supply connections to the adjacent endsof said distributor bars, each of said distributor ybars having a valve mechanism therein` comprisinga longitudinallyextending shiftable-.slide bar covering said discharge openings and having. aplurarity of spaced apertures alternate ones of which are in registry with `said discharge openings, a

valve element in each of saidV registering "slide bar 'apertures having a portion extending f therethrough Vand `seating in al respective discharge opening to close the same, means normally urging said valve elements rto seat'in said discharge openings, a hollow housing on the outside ofA each of the distributor bars adjacent the supply connection end thereof, each of said housings having communication with the interior of its respective distributor bar, a respective operating shaft extending into each of said housings and journaled therein, a crank arm xed oneach' of said shafts within its respective housing and extending into the respective distributorbar to engage -the said slide barv therein whereby upo-n rotation of'said operating shaft said crank arm will shift said slide bar and bringthe other apertures thereof into registry with the respective disdis'tributorb ar to rotate said operating shaft, y y control means having connection with each operio 'l l charge-openings, and an operating arm on each of Isaidoperating shafts to rotate the same, one of said distributor bars being arranged to pivot on its respective supply connection, and control means having connection with each operating arm whereby the valve mechanisms of said distributor' bars are operated simultaneously, the operating arm of said one distributor bar being disposedwith the connection to said control v supply connection when said valve mechanism is at its closedposition.

3. A sprayequipment comprising a pair of individual tubular 'distributor' bars arranged in end-to-end relation and each .having a plurality of longitudinally spaced discharge openings, and supply connections to the adjacent ends of said distributor bars, each of said distributor bars having a valve mechanism therein comprising a longitudinally extending shiftable slide i bar carrying a plurality of spaced valve elements arranged to control said discharge openings, crankmeans on the outside of each of said distributor bars adjacent the supply connection end thereof and extending thereinto arranged vto shift said' slide bar longitudinally inthe distributor.

spective supply connection, and common control means interconnecting said operating arms whereby the valve mechanismsof said distributor with the connection of ksaidcontrol means positioned -on the .axis of the respective supply con- -nection when said valve mechanism is at its closed position.

i EARL WALKER.

' meansl positioned on the axis ofthe respective .655 barsare operated simultaneously, the operating arm of saidV onedistributor bar being disposed" 

